About Us - Re-Fresh Global- Turning textile waste into new raw materials

Where others see waste,

we see new resources.

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MEET OUR TEAM

We’re a team of world-class designers, scientists, and business innovators tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Together, we’re pioneering a fresh approach to textile waste. Where others see waste, we see an opportunity to create new, planet-friendly resources.

Based in Israel, Europe, and the United States, our senior staff and advisors bring decades of successful experience spanning multiple industries.

Our main operations are in Europe, where new regulations phasing out the burning and dumping of discarded textiles by 2025 mean that circular solutions to textile waste are in high demand. We’re putting all our passion, talent, and innovation into delivering those solutions for our customers across the globe.

By building a circular textile economy, we’re weaving a better future.

Urte Zahn

CEO

Urte Claudia Zahn is a serial founder, business coach, and advisory board member with 20 years of leadership experience at IBM, Bilfinger, and Bosch. She has founded three companies and now mentors startups with an authentic, experience-based approach, helping founders grow confidently and connect through her network. Urte also lectures at Victoria International University, teaches martial arts, supports team development within the “For Future” movements, and serves on startup competition juries.

IBM | BILFINGER | BOSCH

REVITAL NADIV

COP & Co-Founder

With more than two decades of experience in design and innovation, Revital brings a deep understanding of the fashion landscape and a successful track record in business leadership. As the founder of Re-Vision, she supports companies to implement design innovation and improve their manufacturing and waste management processes. Revital previously directed Israel’s flagship FabLab – a community-based digital manufacturing laboratory. An award-winning designer, she’s headed design projects at Disney and FILA, collaborated with innovation labs across the globe, and currently lectures at Tel Aviv University and other universities. Revital is committed to building a circular textile economy through innovative and sustainable enterprises.

MICROSOFT | FILA | FAB LAB | DISNEY

Georg Heinrich

COO

Georg Heinrich is an experienced operational leader and industrial technology expert with a strong track record in scaling technical businesses. He has held senior leadership and interim management roles across engineering-driven companies.

Georg’s core strengths lie in aligning product development with industrial execution, driving process excellence, and building operational frameworks that support rapid growth and commercial readiness.

VIESSMANN | BOSCH | ThyssenKrupp Automotive | AUDI

GAL TAYLOR

Operations Manager

Gal is in charge of all digital operations at Re-Fresh Global. After serving as an operations and public relations officer in the Israeli Air Force, she developed her expertise in producing, graphic design, UX/UI, and website management. Today, she leads our digital department and has coordinated many of our complex onsite productions. She is deeply committed to creating a more sustainable future for our planet.

Dr. Julia Sotnikova

R&D Director

Aleksandar Kovacevic

Textile Engineer

Hagar Napadow

Project Manager

danit gal

Organization and People Management Advisor

Danit graduated in Sociology and Chinese Studies and went on to develop her career in operations management, working for almost 10 years as Regional Operations Manager; she set up all operations from scratch in China (ISC) and later managed service operations in Berlin (Zalando). While leading multinational teams she realized the impact of strategic hiring and people development on business performance.

She then followed her passion for People & Organization, obtained a soft-skill training certificate, and gained even more experience in designing and building HR and recruitment operations. After co-founding Lisantix, a business that supports entrepreneurs in scaling-up phases, she decided to dedicate her time to HR and Recruitment Consultancy, helping leaders become attractive employers and succeed in the critical process of hiring. In the past years, Danit guided founders and companies on how to successfully build strategic and cost-effective hiring and employment operations.

MEET OUR
advisory board

Our exceptional board members and advisors contribute extensive expertise in the fields of technology, finance, biochemistry, manufacturing, and sustainability.

DR. ITZHAK SHALEV

Chief Technology Advisor Prof., Dean Shenkar College & NCSU

The mastermind behind our breakthrough biotechnology, Itzhak brings more than four decades of experience in industrial chemicals, formulations, and fiber and polymer-based industries. He has published over 80 papers and patents and consulted for leading Israeli and international companies and startups including Teva Pharmaceuticals. He earned a PhD in Fiber and Polymer Science from North Carolina State University, where he is a Visiting Associate Professor.

MICHAEL ULBRICH

Board member Managing Director Chemicals & Natural Resources, Accenture

Michael focuses on the chemicals and natural resources industries in his role as managing director for Accenture Strategy. He leads the global chemicals sustainability practice and has broad cross-industry experience in business strategy as well as operational and commercial excellence. He is based in Frankfurt and passionate about supporting the transition to a circular economy.

Dr. Fabian Schreiber

Smart textiles, TITV MD, RWTH Aachen

DR. BRIAN JESTER

Genetic enzymes and synthetic biology products

DR. SHOSHANA FEINGOLD-STUDNIK

Board member, Partner Panthera VC

An experienced financial expert and entrepreneur, Shoshana has represented the JV Volkswagen Group and DSW ($600 M), and generated sales of hundreds of millions of dollars for companies including VW, ECI Telecom, Yozma VC, SHR Technologies, and Real Estate Funds. Shoshana is a founding partner of Panthera Impact Venture Capital Fund, a VC firm promoting social impact businesses. She holds a PhD in Economics from the Free University of Berlin.

DR. OLIVER SCHWABE

Innovation & Financing Advisor Risk Partner Rolls Royce Civil Aerospace

Oliver is a Risk Partner for Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce with a special focus on Cybersecurity, and an applied researcher on Innovation Diffusion in Ecosystems. He is also the Chair of the Open European Network for Enterprise Innovation, and associated with the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources of the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, Portugal. Oliver has a deep understanding of complex, multi-national projects, and continuously supports a portfolio of high-potential startups. He holds a PhD in Manufacturing from Cranfield University, UK.